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BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS
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Subject: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: katlaughing Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:08 PM We did it! I cannot describe what joy and pride i am feeling, right now, for our country and its citizens who, this day, wrote History by electing Barack Obama for President! Oh, Happy Day!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: SINSULL Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:10 PM Hope... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: Don Firth Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:15 PM Among other things, I feel an incredible sense of relief! Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: Maryrrf Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:15 PM I'm grinning from ear to ear!!!!! And Virginia went for Obama - I'm happy and proud! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:16 PM breathing again what a glorious night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: Deckman Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:16 PM YEP! bob |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: CarolC Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:18 PM A massive, ugly, dark cloud that has been hovering over this country for eight years is now dissipating. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: GUEST Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:18 PM So far North Carolina is almost dead even. It's my friend Lonnie's fault. He voted McCain. Oh yeah..... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: catspaw49 Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:20 PM I posted this on another thread but it fits here as well............ While I feel the party comin' on my mind can't help but be overwhelmed at the monumental change that has taken place. Obama is President. Forty-five years ago, 4 little girls were killed by a KKK bombing of the 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham. Somehow I can't help but think of that now and the first song that went through my head was Richard Farina's "Birmingham Sunday." Come round by my side and I'll sing you a song. I'll sing it so softly, it'll do no one wrong. On Birmingham Sunday the blood ran like wine, And the choirs kept singing of Freedom. That cold autumn morning no eyes saw the sun, And Addie Mae Collins, her number was one. At an old Baptist church there was no need to run. And the choirs kept singing of Freedom, The clouds they were grey and the autumn winds blew, And Denise McNair brought the number to two. The falcon of death was a creature they knew, And the choirs kept singing of Freedom, The church it was crowded, but no one could see That Cynthia Wesley's dark number was three. Her prayers and her feelings would shame you and me. And the choirs kept singing of Freedom. Young Carol Robertson entered the door And the number her killers had given was four. She asked for a blessing but asked for no more, And the choirs kept singing of Freedom. On Birmingham Sunday a noise shook the ground. And people all over the earth turned around. For no one recalled a more cowardly sound. And the choirs kept singing of Freedom. The men in the forest they once asked of me, How many black berries grew in the Blue Sea. And I asked them right with a tear in my eye. How many dark ships in the forest? The Sunday has come and the Sunday has gone. And I can't do much more than to sing you a song. I'll sing it so softly, it'll do no one wrong. And the choirs keep singing of Freedom. Tonight we can still sing of freedom but now loudly and with feeling as this country has passed a great milestone in its history. William Sloane Coffin said that to be an American patriot was "to have a love/hate affair with your country." Many times I feel as James Kunen felt when he said, "America.....I love what it could be; I hate what it is." At least for now and in this moment.....I love what it is. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!! From: Neil D Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:23 PM McCain's conceding! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! squared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:31 PM McCain is giving a gracious and comprehensive concession speech. Good for him. Palin was very close to tears, but I'm sure this isn't the last of her. She'll go back to Alaska and think about this, and possibly re-invent herself. That's another story for another day. We toasted Obama with a glass of wine and will wait for his speech before heading to bed. As someone said on one of the NPR talk shows earlier today, Christmas is in November this year! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Don Firth Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:35 PM I know that other countries around the world have been watching this election very carefully and with great interest. I think we may have just indicated that this country might actually be civilized after all! Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Riginslinger Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:40 PM The American public will need to get behind him now. He'll need all the help he can get. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: CarolC Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:44 PM That guest post above is JtS. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:44 PM "I think we may have just indicated that this country might actually be civilized after all!" Yup, you sure have! :0) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: katlaughing Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:45 PM Spaw/Pat, thank you for that eloquence, your own and the song. My heart is so full right now. McCain's speech was very gracious. I am glad of that, too. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Sorcha Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:45 PM Yes, we DID IT! And that ba*****rd McCain STILL lied in his concession speech. We'll see the 'End of the Known World' when Wyoming actually goes Democrat. Came close with Ohio! But, by GEORGE, we DID IT! PS...why do they keep referring to him as an African American? He is 'mixed race'. What ever works, I guess. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Bill D Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:48 PM **tears**...I didn't know....till I saw the crowd cheering...and tears on the face of Jesse Jackson and the words of John Lewis...how I had been holding it all in. So many years.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: irishenglish Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:51 PM I whooped. I screamed out the apartment window simultaneously with my wife and neighbors. I toasted with champagne. I kissed and hugged my wife. ANd then, the scope of it all came in, the emotion. And I'm sitting here fighting back tears despite being overjoyed! I'm proud of my country. I'm proud of the winner, I'm touched by McCain's concession. I'm just proud and happy. I can say no more. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: C. Ham Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:52 PM A great day for America and for the world! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Melissa Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:56 PM I knew I cared about this election but I didn't expect to get so riled up as the results were coming in.. Hooray for us! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Pseudolus Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:58 PM I made the bold prediction when I was in my 30's that I would not live to see a black man elected as president of the United States. I said it not because I wouldn't vote for a man or a woman of color but my faith in my country did not exist. And I did not believe that we could possibly end the bigotry long enough to see the man or woman and not the color of his/her skin. I have been wrong before in my lifetime with bold predictions but I have never been so happy to be wrong as I am tonight....And it only took til I was 50!!! Life is good, Frank |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: GUEST,melinda Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:04 AM I'm so relieved - now Americans can go abroad without having to pretend they're Canadians! Yes, Virginia (and yes, Ohio) there is a Santa Claus, and he came early this year! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: CamiSu Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:05 AM My son is working for Obama in Colorado. I called him as soon as Colorado was called. He just yelled into the phone. I have been yelling all night. The 2 exchange students do understand...really! I'm so giddy! I was more than a bit disgusted with the supporters that insisted on booing. And I am really nervous about that very dangerous governor of Alaska.... But right now I just cannot stop grinning. Just wish my husband was around to see this. He SO much wanted this. Happy!!!!!!!!!!! CamiSu |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:08 AM CAMISU!!!! Where have you been old friend? I have missed you!Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:19 AM Well, Barak Obama has just finished his amazing speech. And an Age of Dignity and Integrity has come to America, at long last. WHAT a Leader you now have. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: CamiSu Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:22 AM Long Story. Hosting and supporting about 30 exchange students, marrying of Lady Wavestar, taking care of my husband while he died the last 2 years (he died in February). Now I am just trying to manage the carpentry, the farm, and his business. Oh, and 2 exchange students moved in last Friday, until we find them new homes. Great kids, but I am not organized enough to host right now, and really want some time to sort stuff out... I've missed everyone here, and you in particular Spaw! *BIG hug* CamiSu |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:22 AM Just saw Jesse Jackson trying unsucessfully to hold back tears..............unreal night. To bring this thread back to a lighter note.....Michelle Obama is the best looking First Lady we've had since Jackie and frankly more natural and warm then Jackie, who always seemed to look a bit vacant. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: artbrooks Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:25 AM Jesse and me both. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Goose Gander Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:27 AM The whole world breathes a collective sigh of relief . . . |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: katlaughing Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:40 AM Cami-Sue, good for you and your son!! BillD, I don't think any of us realise how much we have been holding in, but esp. those of you who were so much a part of the Civil Rights movement; Jesse's tears were so eloquent. What a moment. What history! And, we are part of it!! Here's that fantastic speech (I could *hear* the Henry V soliloquy at Agincourt - stirred the same emotions and more!) Sen. Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech in Chicago, Ill. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America. It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead. I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure. To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics ¿ you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done. But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to it belongs to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory. I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you we as a people will get there. There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people. br>
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: CarolC Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:40 AM We are very blessed to have a leader like Barack Obama. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Lonesome EJ Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:46 AM Hallelujah!!! And what a job he's got ahead of him. But he has made me believe that he's up to it. I had tears on my cheeks as he spoke, tears of pride, relief, and hope. An unbelievable night for this country. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: frogprince Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:46 AM I've been just sitting here, trying to find some way to express how good I feel right now... There aren't many people for whom my feelings have been as dramatically mixed as for Jesse Jackson. But seeing him tonight with that expression, and the tears flowing, I could have hugged him big time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Amos Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:58 AM This is a moment of unprecedented, amazing, soaring importance in our national history. The good people, those who believed in compassion, in unification, in healing and in finding common strengths instead of the weakness of division, have prevailed for the nation. America has stunned itself, for just a moment, in the renewed discovery of what she stands for and the hope she brings to people throughout the country, and in every other country. This is a huge hour in our history, and I am completely stunned and grateful to have been there to see it occur. I feel like I just attended the Gettysburg address. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: TRUBRIT Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:06 AM Thank God -- what a blessed relief. And what a speech........... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: meself Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:06 AM The world is proud of the United States tonight .... Congratulations to our American friends! McCain's speech was a model of graciousness - I never saw him as presidential as in his concession of the presidential election. Obama was magnificent, of course ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Big Mick Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:10 AM I hope you will forgive me for posting this here also. There was this fella from Battle Creek, Michigan. His name was Joe Crump. Joe was a black man, an African American. He was a big man, with a bigger smile, and a much bigger heart. We became friends over 30 years ago. I remember my Father, a victim of the times he was raised in, asking me once why I considered Joe my best friend. I told Da that Joe and I loved each other as brothers, that we watched out for each others backside. My father had a hard time with this. I told Joe that I was so disappointed in my father. He got angry at me, and told me that my Dad was a good man with the prejudices of his times. He told me that my Dad raised me, and I was his best friend. And then Joe let his big smile and bigger heart win my Dad over. When Joe died 2 years ago, my Mom and Dad were in the front row at the funeral and wept openly at the loss of a man they loved like one of their own. My youngest child, Ciara, was born in 1982. I asked my best friend, Joe, to be her Godfather. Joe was absolutely overjoyed to do it, and from the first moment he loved that little girl. Every where he went brought her postcards, and Uncle Joe travelled a lot. She loved getting them. Every birthday brought a savings bond, and gifts of candy, with the admonishment "don't tell your Mom I gave you this box of candy bars". But Uncle Joe looked so different from the other folks around her, that the little girl just couldn't give her Uncle Joe a hug. I remember being embarassed about that, and my best friend just looked at me like I had a tail, and informed me that "of course she is afraid. Look at me!". But then he admonished me to just cool it. And he let that big smile, and that big heart patiently do is work. One night, when Ciara was 6 years old, Joe and his lady friend, my wife, and Ciara were at a play. Joe's lady friend's daughter was in the high school play. After the play, we all decided to go for pizza. It was dark outside, and as we all walked to our cars, Ciara stopped me, let out a big sigh, and told me she wanted to ride with Uncle Joe. It was clear that this little girl recognized the love Uncle Joe had for her, and was going to overcome her fear of his different looks. Well, Joe puffed up like a biskit with butter in it and put the wee little girl in his car. Took them a half hour to drive the 5 minutes to the pizza parlor. They were inseparable to the day he died, and Ciara still thinks of him every single day. Joe taught me about prejudice. Joe taught us all about judging people by the content of their character. Joe taught us about pure, unadulterated love of your fellow man. He never judged folks for their racism, just vowed to beat it by his examples of love and service. Joe served on prestigious boards, and worked in the neighborhoods that spawned him. Joe knew Governors and Presidents, and revelled in delivering food baskets in his old neighborhoods. Joe spoke at conventions, but did his best work one on one. Joe lived his whole life with integrity, and honest love of fellow man, even as he suffered the outrageous slings and arrows of racism. He forgave those whose racism came from the times they were raised in, but was a fierce warrior in the battle against those who used law to further their bigotry. I would give anything to look in his eyes tonight and ask him, "Did you ever think, my beloved brother, that you would see this day?" I am sitting here with tears running down my face, at times sobbing, because I wish I could put my arm around my best friends shoulder and tell him that Obama's victory was his victory. I wish I could say to him, and to all the folks that never got the headlines, that I understand that it was by their walking through a world that enslaved them, killed them, economically strangled them,....... and yet they walked with grace, and at this moment, forgives us all. I listened to the gracious concession speech by McCain, and heard a significant part of the crowd try to boo when they heard the name of Obama. Then I watched the crowd in Grant Park, and I saw tears. I listened to a black preacher on the telly speak with forgiveness, and reach out to the other side. Thanks, Joe. I will love you until the day I draw my last breath on this side. Then we will meet and start to tell jokes and make folks laugh. I wish you could be here so I could thank you, and help you understand, just as you helped me to understand. I would help you understand that by your presence, grace, integrity, honesty, and love of your fellow men, women and children, you paved the way for this moment. All the best, Mick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Azizi Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:17 AM To think that this day has come...I have no words. I wanted to share this occassion with my Mudcat friends. And I want just want to say God bless America. And God bless our President elect, Barack Obama and our Vice President elect, Joe Biden!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: katlaughing Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:19 AM Mick, "thanks" doesn't seem enough for your kind sharing with us. I would offer this, though, as it seems to be okay for this thread, too. I was talking with my son tonight, expressing how incredible I felt about this, telling him about the friends I have who marched with King and fought for civil rights and how meaningful it is to have a man of mixed race, like his nephews, elected to be president. My son said he understood how important it is to remember where we have been, but to his generation and his sisters' Obama was the best there was to vote for and the thought of his mixed race didn't come into why they voted for him. I know and he knows there are still folks in his generation who do care about the colour of a person's skin, but it made me very happy to know there is no distinction when it comes to my kids. As my daughter, mother of mixed race twins, say, "We are all part of the human race." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Little Hawk Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:31 AM Whew! I felt exactly the same thing as Don Firth when Obama's victory was confirmed..."an incredible sense of relief!" Thank God. This is about the best thing I've seen happen in a long, long time. No kidding about that. Hey Azizi, your joy in this moment is shared outside your country by more people than you can imagine. The whole world was waiting and hoping for this change to come. This is celebration time! Now Mr Obama is going to have to deal with a huge entrenched power system in Washington, and he's just one man. The American public has got to give him all the help they can. It's not going to be easy. (But...there is a tremendous amount of goodwill in the rest of the world to assist you with that, which should help considerably.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:39 AM Wonderful story Mick. This was a great day for the country and it is obvious there are others who are as elated as I. I have voted for winners in the past but have never felt as much joy when the results came in. The first step in winning back international respect was made tonight and my confidence in my fellow citizens is restored. It is hard to imagine that someone who had to borrow money to go to college could become the President of this nation and even harder to imagine that someone would stay on the high road in a campaign when so many vicious accusations were being made. I do think we have a new President and first lady with character. Senator McCain restored my respect with his speech and I do think he was sincere. Much work to be done but it looks like the folk of this country are ready to roll up their sleeves. What a day! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Ron Davies Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:41 AM And one of the best things about it is that it's a body blow to all the cynics--on the Left, the Right and just the Confused Fringe-- who kept telling us Obama had no chance, that it didn't matter who you voted for, nothing would change, that there's no point in getting involved with the political process, etc. This campaign was to a large extent, as Obama himself noted, won by the little people who did the work for him and contributed their money--not huge amounts but it mounted up--and their numbers form a nucleus for him to get progress on many issues. Some did more than others--Carol C and JTS probably did the most, I suspect--but all of his supporters contributed something--and many more than just a vote. Obama is also a wonderful role model and a huge rebuke to anybody who doesn't think education is worth the trouble. Cynicism took it on the chin tonight. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:43 AM I am even feeling charitable toward W for the moment. Hope is a wonderful thing. Now there's work to do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Little Hawk Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:49 AM Yeah, hope sure is a wonderful thing. Like I said before, what a sense of relief! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: nutty Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:58 AM Well done America .... you are right to feel proud of yourselves. I'm hoping that one day the UK may be able to emulate this and have a Prime Minister that really moves me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: GUEST,Dan's laptop Date: 05 Nov 08 - 02:08 AM I remember a professor in Divinity School asking what unites the various forms of Humanism, from the Renaissance to the modern era. I paraphrased the words of a 19th century Unitarian minister, James Freeman Clarke, and said, "a belief in the progress of humankind, onward and upward, forever and ever!" The professor sighed and said, "It's so poetic; I wonder if anyone believes it anymore." I remember thinking that I believed it - humanity really does progress over time, but that in my lifetime I had seen very little evidence. Tonight I've seen the proof of that progress. I'm thrilled that my candidate has won, that the Supreme Court has been saved, that we'll have a President who understands a multi-cultural, pluralistic world, that that after eight years of reckless disregard for the Constitution, we'll have someone who is truly an expert on the document and who cares for it deeply. I'm over the moon that the person I supported from the beginning has pulled this off. (This just never happens to me!) But all of this, important as it is, is secondary to the simple fact of what happened in this country tonight. 150 years ago, slavery was legal in the United States. 50 years ago, much of the country lived under Jim Crow. Many public facilities were not fully integrated until the 1970s and 80s. And now this country has elected an African American - with the middle name Hussein, no less - to be our President. That means more than an accomplishment for one man or one race - it is an accomplishment for humanity, and for the American people. It is an accomplishment for White Americans who have been able to leave behind - or at least to suppress - the bigotry that has defined so much of our history. The struggle against racial injustice is far from over, but tonight the evidence of progress is clear. I think what means the most to me about this victory is that it did not happen because Obama was African American - or even, I think, in spite of it. It happened because a majority of the people believed that this man would do the best job. I don't agree with everything Obama says or does. In many ways he is far more of a centrist than I am. I do believe, though, in his basic integrity and ability to lead people through transformative change. That's something we haven't seen in a President for a long time. And once again, and still - I believe in the progress of humankind. Dan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: astro Date: 05 Nov 08 - 02:17 AM Just heard from my children...Jessie in Berkeley and finishing up there is out in the streets with the rest of the school shutting down Telegraph Avenue with celebrations... Son Aaron in Seoul Korea whooping it up with his middle school students and wish he could shut some streets down too.... Heard from Becky in Tucson and she and Dan are whooping it up along with me here in Los Angeles...it makes us very proud and want to scream that it is over, the bush will be planted back home.... A gracious speech from McCain and I was glad that he was shushing the boos for Obama...wished that McCain would have been around and not the one we saw (not to say I wanted him to win, am happy he's comin home to Arizona, and very glad Alaska is getting back their governor).. My children make me proud!!!! Astro |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Nov 08 - 02:21 AM When I got home from visiting my doctor & turned on the radio & heard our Prime Minister saying something about how Australia could have worked with McCain as they will work with Obama I was pleased. But didn't really start feeing things till I read this thread (Mick, you had me crying again!) I've listened to the enthusiasm & the craziness - heard & read comments by people who will & won't vote for a (n-word) - heard & read learned commentary - & it all got too much (will voters really do what pollsters say? will some change their votes when no-one can see them) But they did what was predicted! yah!! good on ya & best wishes for the future. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Yes, We Did!!!---OBAMA WINS From: Cats Date: 05 Nov 08 - 02:23 AM Congratulations to all in the USA. Let's hope he will now keep his promises. 'What Martin Luther King started, Barack Obama has completed' was what one commentator in the Uk said last night. |
